Our views: ; Cable bills can be lowered; Consumers do not have to pay higher rates if they read more

FOR the second consecutive year, Suddenlink has raised cablerates in Charleston by between $12 and $60 a year - $1 to $5 a month- depending on what package a person buys.

Complaints are expected. Nobody likes higher prices.

Suddenlink says the increase is needed because of the increasedcost of programming, including sports programming, and because ofincreased energy costs.

But companies are not alone in facing higher costs. The sameincreases in fuel and utility bills the company cites in raising itsprices are also felt by its customers.

Rather than complain to Charleston City Council, which can't doanything anyway, there are alternatives cable television customerscan explore.

People can always cut back on cable service. Downsizing from aBiggest Value package to a Bigger Value package would keep costs thesame. Dropping to a Big Value package would actually save somemoney.

And dropping to the 23-channel basic package would cut customers'costs to a mere $19.99 a month - a far cry from the $80.99 thatBiggest Value customers will pay.

Of course, that means fewer channels.

What's wrong with that? The world would be a better place ifpeople shut off their TVs and engaged their minds anyway.

There are other activities in life: Card games. Reading. Actuallytalking to family members.

Cutting back on TV time might not only save a few bucks butactually improve the quality of life.